Three brothers in the NFL: From childhood dream to reality for the White brothers from Emmaus

Emmaus High graduate Kevin White has had his first three NFL seasons cut short by injuries. Brother Ka’Raun, who hopes to be in the NFL next season, says Kevin has handled the setbacks well.

Emmaus High graduate Kevin White has had his first three NFL seasons cut short by injuries. Brother Ka’Raun, who hopes to be in the NFL next season, says Kevin has handled the setbacks well.

Mark WogenrichOf The Morning Call

When they were kids, the White brothers determined that they would play in the NFL together. They dueled in everything then, from basketball to video games to cornhole. Their father, Kevin, won that game.

Now, Kevin, Kyzir and Ka’Raun White are poised to achieve something rare in NFL circles: land three brothers in the league. The Baldingers, Watts and Gronkowskis are among those who have done it. And there are four Fuller brothers in the NFL.

The White family from Macungie could be next.

“This is something we’ve wanted since we were little,” Ka’Raun White said. “To be in this situation, to make our dreams come true, is pretty incredible.”

Ka’Raun and Kyzir White, who followed brother Kevin from Emmaus High to Lackawanna College to West Virginia, sought the next step at the recent NFL Scouting Combine. The brothers spent four days in Indianapolis making their own impressions upon NFL personnel while also answering plenty of questions about their older brother.

Kevin White, the Chicago Bears’ first-round pick in 2015, has played just five games in three seasons because of injuries. He continues to recover from a shoulder injury in the 2017 season opener that caused him to miss nearly a second full season.

So far in his NFL career, Kevin has sustained tibia, fibula and shoulder scapula fractures. Chicago general manager Ryan Pace found a silver lining.

“I think the good thing with Kevin, with it being an upper-body injury, is he's been able to run and work on his route quickness and those types of things,” Pace said at the combine. “He's kind of got a chip on his shoulder now. It’s just unfortunate with the injuries, but we're still excited about where he's at.”

Kyzir and Ka’Raun have been the voices of support for Kevin, even though they’re the younger brothers. Kyzir said the injures have “hurt to see,” but he marveled at his brother’s capacity to endure.

“He’s still humble, still hungry,” Ka’Raun White said. “A lot of people are saying he’s a bust, he’s glass, but he doesn’t let all that get to his head. He’s still working every day, rehabbing. He’ll bounce back.”

Once they see all the stuff I can do, I feel like the scouts will take a second look at me.— Ka'Raun White, former West Virginia receiver

Ka’Raun doesn’t mind being compared to Kevin, though he was out to separate himself at the combine. Despite an NFL scouting report of “average” strength, Ka’Raun benched 225 pounds 24 times, leading all receivers and tight ends. He also ran the 40-yard dash in 4.54 seconds, a solid time for a 6-1, 206-pound receiver.

After a strong senior season (61 catches, 12 for touchdowns) Ka’Raun referred to himself as an NFL “sleeper.” NFL Draft Scout projects him as a seventh-round pick or free agent.

“I feel like I can do it all,” he said. “Play the slot, play outside, make clutch catches. I’m a competitor at the end of the day. Once they see all the stuff I can do, I feel like the scouts will take a second look at me.”

Kyzir, who called Ka’Raun “very underrated,” was second-team all-Big 12 last season with 94 tackles and three interceptions. The 6-2, 216-pound Kyzir played West Virginia’s spur position, a linebacker/safety spot called upon for run support as well as coverage.

Kyzir, who did not run the 40-yard dash at the combine, called himself a “hybrid” player willing to play linebacker or safety in the NFL. He has a fondness for blitzing but also rated his coverage skills highly.

West Virginia defensive back Kyzir White performs in a drill at the NFL Scouting Combine.

West Virginia defensive back Kyzir White performs in a drill at the NFL Scouting Combine. (Gregory Payan / AP)

I love contact, love tackling, love being physical. I just love imposing my will on people.— Kyzir White, former West Virginia safety

The paths the Whites followed are remarkably similar, beginning with Kevin. He has said that grades limited his options following his senior year at Emmaus, which led him to Lackawanna College, a Scranton school with a strong track record of developing Division I football players.

From there, Kevin became an all-American at West Virginia. Kyzir and Ka’Raun began their college careers at Lackawanna before choosing West Virginia as well.

“Seeing him do that gave us the motivation and let us know that we can do the exact same thing,” Kyzir said. “Same bloodline, same parents. Nothing different between us.”

“If it wasn’t for Lackawanna, none of us would be in this situation,” Ka’Raun added.

The brothers trained together recently in Arizona, and both Ka’Raun and Kyzir are convinced Kevin will prove why he was a first-round pick. Kyzir’s even looking forward to covering his brothers on the field soon.